Program-clock.



H. B. WILSON.

PROGRAM CLOCK. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fza

INVENTOR A TTORNE Y! Patented Apr.'6, 1909.

H. B. WILSON.

PROGRAM OLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

9% gm m V 7 M HM Z 7 g M. 4y/m. Q E

W; Jx 44% H. B. WILSON.

PROGRAM GLOGK.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

917,394. Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

f SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f .I I 7 A 7a Q .J //f /g l 'llf Z WITNESSES: INVENTOR 1H: NORRIS PETERS cm. wasmmzrcm. p. c.

H. B. WILSON. PROGRAM cLocK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1907. 91 7,394. Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mun-mu Im WITNESSES. k Q INVENTOR M a 4 5 13 W -%//xJ/% 2 wLA TTORNE VJ THE mmms PETERS cm, \vasmmzrau, 04 c.

H. B. WILSON. PROGRAM CLOCK.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVEN TOR Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

wit/(14% ZTTORNE YJ 'mz'NoRms PETERS co WASHINGTDN, a q.

HARRY B. WILSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PBUGRAltZ-UL No. 9 17,39--l. Specification oi Application filed May 8, F

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that i, Henley B. WILSON, of citizen of the United States, residing Milwaukee, county of lililwaulzee, and State of Wisconsin, have improvements in Erograar-Cloclcs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in program clocks.

The objects of my invention are to provide a. form of clock controlled mechanism in which. electrical circuits through one or more sets of bells or other signals, may be closed by means of selective pins and tli'll'orentlal brushes at short intervals and pre'l erabhr in combination with a circuit breaker lhniting the duration of the signal. Also to provide means for breaking the signaling circuit at specified intervals of varying duration; also for breaking e circuit through one set of signals and closing it through another set or at any desired intervals, contemporaneous, or in alt .rnetion; also to provide means whereby the signal controlling inechenisin may be driven from an hiclepenclent source of power, but controlled from a clock oi orrlinary type.

In the following (1 scription, reference is hacl to the accompanying drawings in winch Figure l is a general front view oi my invention with the clock partially broken away to show the signal limiting mechanism. Fig. 2- is rear view. Fig. 3 is a view of the (iii terential mecl'ianisrn with the selective largely broken away. l is a vertical sectional view of the dillerential mechan sm. and circuit controller, with clotted. lines indicating the position of the circuit closing pins when such programs are to be useal 1n alternation or as (lay and night programs. Fig. 5 is e.- cletail top *iew of a portion the clii'terential mechanism, illus rating the lation of the pins and brushes. Fig. 6 is a. view similar to Fig. 3, showing an arrange ment for providing altern night and (lay programs.

Like parts are identified by the same i erence ch a actors throughout the verz views.

1 is the dial of an ordinary clock ant. a. selective cliel provided with a circular row of holes 3 adapted to receive the selective contact plugs l anti 5, the plugs 5 being longer than the plugs a. The signals are electrically controlled. A battery 6 is employed in connection with a set of signaling bells 7,

invented new and useful Letters PEI/"$11M.

Patented April 6, 12909.

$907. Serial No. 372,191.

and the circuit of the battery through the oil is made and broken by thr e rotary ircuit closers (haven by the clock mechanism,

a u all three or wl'iich 111 st be simultaneously in one ut closing position to sound the hells. One cl these circuit closers is l'ierein termed he clnlierential circuit closer, and

. .es contact with the plugs. The position of the plugs on the dial regulates the time of contact. l the oth r circuit closers is herein termed the signal limiting mechanism, this being rangecl to close the circuit at that point n ornentarily and at short intervals, preferably twice while the differential circuit closer is traveling a (listance equal to the space hetwe n two holes on the dial. The remaining circuit closer herein termed the circuit controller, which moves step by step once during each revolution of the di'fiicrential circuit closer, and closes the circuit at that point through long intervals 't'or exeniple during the working hours, or in six ocloclr a. in. to six ocloclz p. in, the circuit being broken during the night or at non-worl ing periods.

'ihe circuit is closed through the plugs by means oi the clock mechanism and differential brushes 8 and 9 mounted upon rotary carrier 10, the brush 8 contacting with both the long and short plugs, while the brush 9 contacts only with the long plugs. The brushes constitute forked arms of a member ll, which is insulated from the carri r 10. The current from the battery 6 follows wires 12 to the bells 7 and then by wires 14-,

through a brush 15 to an insulated ring 16 on the nrrier an l from this ring to the meinher ll through a conductor 17. T he (lifl'eu ential brushes and 9 thus constitute ter niinals for this pole ol the battery, and when eith r is in ontact wi h a p ug the ct rrenr passes into the dial, and the clock frame, and then back to the both through a. signal mech nism and circuit cont oller 0" these are in circuit closing position. By using a plurality of contacts 3 and 9, it is possible to shorten the interval between signals beyond the limit of practicability with pine alone. 'l avoid contusion amidelay in removing and replacing pins in a dial o1 reasonable size, the pin receiving holes should represent not less than "live minute intervals. if it be assumed that one long and one short pin occupy atljecent holes, then the contact 8 will operate two signals lsince it strikes both pins. The contact 9 will strike only the long pin and this may be made to take place at any desired interval between or after the signals produced by the member 8, thus multiplying the number of ossible signals without increasing the numlier of dial apertures.

The signal limiting mechanism comprises a rotary member .20, driven from the clock mechanism, and provided with pins '21, which are so arranged to contact successively and momentarily with a resilient electrode 22 at short intervals (preferably two and one-half minute intervals,) and when this contact is simultaneous *ith a differential brush and pin contact, the current flows from the frame through the electrode 22 and a wire 23 to the rotary circuit controlling member which is insulated from the frame. The current enters this member through its supporting shalt l. he member 25 is provided with segmentally arranged pins 28 which may be brought into contact successively with a resilient contact arm 29, and when in contact, permit the current to flow from the pin through. the arm 29 and a wire back to the battery, thus completing the circuit.

Where two programs are to be controlled, the second program is indicated by signal bells 7' connected with the battery by wire 12*, with the current flowing through wire 14, brush 15, ring 16* on the carrier, and wire 17 to diiierentia-l brushes 8 and 9, the dial being provided with a second row of holes 3 to receive the plugs 3 or 1-, and support them in the paths of these brushes. The return circuit through these pins is the same as that through the brushes 8 and 9. 'lhe rings 16 and 16 may be mounted on either side of the carrier, the brushes 15 and 15 being correspondingly located either to the front or rear.

The carrier 10 is mounted on a shaft 35, and the arbor 36 oi the minute hand of the clock is connected with the shaft through the gear wheels 37 and 38, vertical shaft 39 gear wheels 40 and 41, 46 and 47. An auxiliary spring 42 aids the clock in driving the carrier through the gear wheels 44, and. 45. The clock is or" course provided with the usual escapement which controls the movement of the carrier, the connections being such that the carrier rotates once in twelve hours in synohronism with the movement of the hour hand of the clock.

The circuit controlling member 25 is provided with peripheral teeth. 50, these being spaced at one half the distance between two adjacent pins 2 in the segmental row on this member. The member is rotated step by step at twelve hour intervals by means of an arm 52 on the carrier, which contacts with one of the teeth once during each carrier revolution. The arrangement is such that the member 25 will be advanced one step at "resent full (la- V tial brushes 8 of circuit closers thereon located at different 6 a. in. and another l n. in, the first oi L! these steps bringing a pin 28 to arm 29 and the second adv-an ing such pin and bringing the member halfway to the position of ner zt pin contact.

55 is a resilient and between i 2111C. prevent overrotatien of the mom oer The pins have been referreo .As the successi hour intervals in (tie rotation it eeth 50 represent there step by ml, 1 movement pins 28 repm er' clock illustrated is designed tor school 3, grams and the pins representir.

{K ll. 'l.L are tiiereiore emitter, 1

(en rrom s1): oclorr: p.

a. 11., hiorula Referring to Fig. if: it

a rotary c1 nit co trolling member provided with two segmental rows of contact and 2S?" and two sets cont ct arms 29 and 29 The pins occupy radii on the member 25*, midway between tiose cccupied by the pins and when the member 25 m one tep from contact bet.

pin 23 am... he arm 29, it ii to arm 29*. The next st. '2 ing pin 2?, to arm 29, alternately established, fir. a and then through the other. rangement is employed, tiie second row ol' holes 3" on the dial are used for the night A in and the z-trizs and 29* are connected rv wires 62 and Cat r 3* respect ivelv.

to the 1mm er25 t' l and battery to the bells in contact with era or ti'ience by wire or 6 15 and thence tlsi ring 16 (or 16) wire .7 V.

and 9 (or 8 9*). its path from any one of the brushes follows tactinaf I:- i't' me tary device adjacent to the dial, a plurality distances from the dial, contact devices of unequal length adapted to be removably connected with the dial, some of said contact devices being adapted to project across the paths of each of the circuit closers, and others of said contact devices being adapted to extend across the path of a less nu. .iher of circuit closers.

2. In a device of the described class, the combination with a clock mechanism and a normally open signaling circuit, of a dial provided with a series of perforations, a rotary device adjacent to the dial and provided with a plurality of circuit closers lo cated at different distances from the dial, a set of contact plugs of different lengths, each adapted to fit the perforations in the dial, some of said plugs being of insufficient length to reach all of the circuit closers, together with an auxiliary circuit closer driven by the clock mechanism and arranged to make and break the circuit at regular intervals.

3. In a device of the described class, the combination with a clock mechanism and normally open signaling circuit, of a dial provided with a series of perforations, a retary device adjacent to the dial and provided with a plurality of circuit closers located at different distances from the dial, a set of contact plugs of different lengths adapted to fit the dial perforations, the shorter plugs being adapted to project into the path of one of said circuit closers, and the longer plugs being adapted to project into the path of more than one circuit closer, together with a rotary circuit controller provided with contact arms at irregular intervals segmentally disposed and adapted to be actuated step by step at regular intervals from said rotary device adjacent to the dial.

In a device of the described class, the combination with a clock mechanism and a normally open signaling circuit, a dial provided with a series of perforations, a rotary device adjacent to the dial and provided with a plurality of circuit closers located at different distances from the dial, a set of se lective contact plugs of different lengths adapted to enter said perforations and project into the paths of the circuit closers, some of said plugs being of insufficient length to reach all of said circuit closers, and a rotary circuit controller provided with segmentally arranged circuit closing arms, and

means for actuating the circuit controller step by step at regular intervals, said arms being arranged to constitute terminals for said signaling circuit and adapted to contact successively with a suitable electrode in said circuit to close the same at that point.

5. In a device of the described class, the combination of a signaling circuit, a clock mechanism, a rotary device driven thereby, and provided with a plurality of insulated circuit closing differential brushes, a dial having an annular row of perforations, a set of plugs of different lengths corresponding with the distance between the dial and the circuit closing arms,said dial being included in said circuit and said plugs being adapted to electrically connect a contacting circuit closing arm with the dial,a contact ring on said rotary device electrically connected with he differential brushes, and a brush connecting the source of electrical energy through the signals with said ring.

6. In a device of the described class, the combination with a signaling circuit, a clock mechanism, a dial, and circuit closing devices driven by the clock mechanism in connection therewith, of a circuit controller driven step by step from said circuit closing devices, and provided with means for directing the current through certain of said cirzuit closing devices to the exclusion of others, said dial having a plurality of annular rows of perforations, each adapted to receive contact plugs, and separate circuit closing de vices being employed for each row of perforations in the dial, with independent electrical connections to the circuit controller.

7. In a device of the described class, the combination with a signaling circuit, a clock mechanism, a dial provided with plural rows of perforations, removable contact plugs adapted to fit the perforations, a circuit closer for each row of perforations, a carrier driven from the clock mechanism, a separate circuit closer mounted on said carrier for each row of perforations and in position for contact with plugs in such perforations, and a circuit controller mechanically driven step by step from the carrier and adapted to direct the current alternately through one of the circuit closers and then through the other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY B. WILSON,

Witnesses:

LEVERETT 0. WHEELER, NETTIE F. DoPKn. 

